2023 F1 season: An exhaustive glossary of phrases earlier than racing begins

System 1 is again!

Properly, form of.

The 2023 season will get its begin this week as all ten groups descend upon Bahrain for pre-season testing. Over the subsequent few days F1 followers all over the world will get their first seems at how every staff — and driver — stacks up for the season forward, in addition to a glimpse of what every staff has been engaged on over the low season.

So we thought it was a good time to unveil certainly one of our low season tasks; The SB Nation F1 glossary. With a sport crammed with terminology and technical elements, we tried our greatest to interrupt all of it down for F1 followers previous, and new.

107% rule

As we’ll see in a second, F1 makes use of a three-stage qualifying course of. If, in the course of the first stage of qualifying, an eradicated driver fails to put up a lap time inside 107% of the quickest lap time, that driver can not take part within the Grand Prix absent the approval of race officers.

The 107% rule was in utility till 2003, when F1 modified the qualifying format to 2 single-lap classes. When F1 altered the qualifying format, the 107% rule returned in 2011.

Through the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix, 11 drivers failed to fulfill the 107% threshold when qualifying occurred throughout moist circumstances. That led F1 to change the 107% rule, making use of it solely when race officers decide that the observe is dry.

The final time a driver failed the 107% rule was Lance Stroll, again in 2021 on the French Grand Prix. Race officers allowed Stroll’s Aston Martin to take part that weekend. The final time race officers didn’t let a driver take part within the Grand Prix underneath the 107% rule got here in 2012, when Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan, each of HRT, failed to fulfill the 107% threshold and weren’t permitted to race within the Australian Grand Prix.

Aerodynamics

On the planet of F1, aerodynamics is the ballgame. Typically talking, this refers to how air flows over the car. However as we’ll see all through this glossary, there are extra detailed elements of aerodynamics, comparable to downforce, drag, turbulence, resistance, and extra.

Apex

The apex is the center level of the within line on the observe. The apex is the spot on the race observe that drivers intention for, attempting to set themselves up for a clean exit out of the nook.

Backmarker

A backmarker is a automobile that’s operating on the finish of the sector, typically in peril of being lapped by vehicles on the entrance of the pack. In conditions the place vehicles on the entrance of the lead lap are approaching vehicles on the rear of the sector, blue flags might be displayed, informing the slower automobile — the backmarker — to make room for the quicker vehicles to move.

Generally, that doesn’t at all times go in accordance with plan.

Through the 1988 Italian Grand Prix, McLaren’s Ayrton Senna was two laps from victory. He tried to get previous Williams’ Jean-Louis Schlesser, who was on the finish of the pack. However Schlesser mistimed his braking, inflicting a collision between the 2 vehicles. It will be the one race throughout all the 1988 season that McLaren didn’t win:

Two years later, Senna was in an analogous scenario at his dwelling occasion, the 1990 Brazilian Grand Prix. Senna was attempting to win that race for the primary time however collided with one other backmarker, this time Tyrell’s Satoru Nakajima. The 2 collided on the fortieth lap, and Senna completed third regardless of qualifying in pole place:

Ballast

Ballast performs a task in groups complying with the minimal weight necessities for the vehicles every weekend. Groups use ballast so as to add weight, making certain vehicles race on the minimal weights required underneath F1 laws. Historically, racing groups used iron or lead as ballast so as to add weight to the vehicles, now they use densamet, a tungsten alloy.

There was dialogue lately of utilizing ballast as a penalty for groups, as a substitute for grid penalties.

Bargeboard

In an effort to seek out the most effective aerodynamics across the race vehicles, groups used bargeboards. These had been items of bodywork on the entrance of the autos, behind the entrance wheels and in entrance of the sidepods, to regulate the airflow across the automobile:

With the brand new automobile designs unveiled in 2022, bargeboards have change into a factor of the previous.

Blistering

Blistering refers to put on and harm to tyres. This happens when tremendous excessive temperatures are skilled, inflicting the bonds between the tyre’s interior layers to melt. This extra warmth could cause rubber to interrupt away in chunks from the physique of the tyre itself, making a pockmarked impact.

Blue Flag

The blue flag is likely one of the warning flags that may be employed throughout a race. As simply described, a backmarker is a automobile that’s operating on the finish of the sector, typically in peril of being lapped by vehicles on the entrance of the pack. In these conditions, the blue flag is displayed, instructing the slower-running automobile — the backmarker — to permit area for the quicker vehicles to move.

Additionally as simply described, generally it doesn’t go properly.

Bottoming

Bottoming, or bottoming out, refers to when a race automobile’s chassis hits the observe floor. F1 vehicles run with low trip heights to maintain the automobile’s middle of gravity as low to the observe as doable, which helps to create downforce on the automobile. Because the car’s suspension compresses, both at high speeds or when working by corners, the trip peak turns into smaller, making it probably the car hits the observe floor or bottoms out.

Camber

Camber refers back to the angle of the wheels on the race automobile. In the event you take a look at the race automobile from the entrance, the car might have a constructive, a damaging, or a impartial camber. When a automobile has a constructive camber, the bottoms of the wheels are nearer collectively than the tops. When a automobile has a damaging camber, the bottoms of the wheels are wider than the tops. In a impartial camber scenario, the tops and bottoms are the identical distance from the middle line of the automobile.

On this picture from F1.com illustrating the adjustments to the entrance wing, you possibly can see the damaging camber with the entrance wheels:

CFD

CFD is brief for computational fluid dynamics. That is the method the place groups can simulate the stream of air over and round a automobile, by modeling. Traditionally, groups have used wind tunnels to check the stream of air round race vehicles, however with the expansion of CFD, groups can now use a “digital wind tunnel” to check their vehicles.

For extra on CFD, you possibly can learn in regards to the course of intimately right here.

Chassis

F1 race vehicles comprise many essential elements. One is the facility unit, and one other is the chassis. The chassis is the skeleton, or inner body, of the race automobile. An excellent chassis have to be structurally sound, deal with properly at high velocity and thru corners, assist the physique panels and different elements of the car, and shield the driving force always.

Chicanes

Chicanes are parts on a race observe that encompass a number of tight corners in alternate instructions. These are usually positioned on a observe on the finish of a protracted straight, the place the vehicles push high speeds, as a approach of slowing them down all through the remainder of the course. There are a number of well-known chicanes on the F1 circuit, together with the twisting turns across the swimming pool advanced in Monaco, Parabolica at Monza, and Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel at Silverstone. However maybe essentially the most well-known — and hardest — checks drivers at Spa. Often known as Eau Rouge, this left-right-left sequence, whereas working uphill and at high speeds, is the stuff of lore.

In these two movies, you possibly can see Eau Rouge as it’s right now, in addition to the evolution of Eau Rouge over time:

Clear Air

Drivers encounter clear air when they’re on an empty observe, or operating out in entrance throughout a race. With out site visitors in entrance of them, they’re slicing undisturbed air, which is the optimum state for a race automobile. As air passes over the car it creates turbulence, or “soiled air” behind it. Automobiles passing by soiled air lose downforce — which slows them down throughout turns — and makes engine cooling much less efficient.

Coanda Impact

The Coanda Impact, named after Romanian aerodynamics pioneer Henri Coanda, described how fluid flows over a curved floor. When a transferring fluid — comparable to water or air — comes into contact with a curved floor it should observe the curvature of the floor, quite than flowing over the curved floor in a straight line.

What does this need to do with F1? By way of understanding airflow and aerodynamics, together with the Coanda Impact, groups can alter elements of the car to regulate airflow and generate downforce.

For extra on the Coanda Impact and its position in F1, you possibly can watch this explainer video from F1.com.

Cockpit

The cockpit is the place the driving force sits contained in the race automobile. As a result of design of the race vehicles, drivers are nearly in a laying-down place when seated within the cockpit.

Compound

These embrace three slick compounds, in addition to two compounds for moist surfaces. The three slick compounds are usually delicate, medium, and laborious, racing from C1 (hardest) to C5 (softest). This season Pirelli is introducing a sixth compound, C0, which relies on the present C1 compound. There might be a brand new C1 for 2023. Then there are the 2 compounds for moist surfaces: The intermediates, and the complete moist tyres.

Intermediate tyres displace roughly 30 litres of water at 300kph – or 186mph. The complete moist tyres displace roughly 85 litres of water at 300kph – or 186mph.

This picture from Pirelli illustrates the varied compounds used within the 2022 F1 season:

As you possibly can see, the tyre compounds are color-coded. White tyres are the hards, yellow are the mediums, crimson are the softs, inexperienced are the intermediates, and blue are the complete wets.

Concertina impact

Compound refers back to the varieties of tyres utilized in F1. Pirelli, the tyre That is a side of physics generally termed the accordion impact, the elastic band impact, or the concertina impact. Typically talking, you see this when fluctuations within the movement of a touring physique trigger disruptions within the stream of surrounding parts behind it. Within the F1 world, you see this coming into, and out of, corners. If two vehicles are approaching the nook, the automobile in entrance slows down first, permitting the second automobile to shut the hole as a result of it isn’t but braking. However as the 2 vehicles come out of the nook, the impact is reversed. The automobile in entrance will speed up first, increasing the hole between the 2.

For a extra “real-world” instance, take into consideration the final time you had been in stop-and-go site visitors. When the automobile in entrance of you slowed down, you gained floor on them as a result of making use of your brakes later than they did. Once they accelerated, they pulled away from you in a reverse concertina impact.

Management electronics

Management electronics are two of the elements to the facility unit in an F1 automobile. There are two, the Management Electronics-Ok, and the Management Electronics-H. The CE-Ok works at the side of the MGU-Ok, whereas the CE-H works at the side of the MGU-H. (Each the MGU-H and the MGU-Ok might be mentioned later).

The CE items take the power created by both the MGU-Ok or the MGU-H and transmit it to the battery, or they’ll do the reverse, taking electrical power from the battery and transmitting it to both the MGU-Ok or the MGU-H. Alongside the way in which, the management electronics can convert the power to the format utilized by both the battery, or the 2 MGU items.

This requires lots of processing energy for the management electronics. Over the course of a single race, over 40 trillion calculations are made by the management electronics.

On this video, Mercedes managing director Hywel Thomas explains how the management electronics capabilities in higher element:

Debrief

Life in F1 is rather like life in any company setting.

Plenty of conferences.

Within the F1 world, these are referred to as debriefs. After each occasion, be it observe, qualifying, or a race, the staff will get collectively to speak about what occurred, what went mistaken, and what may be improved in a debriefing session:

You is likely to be questioning why every participant is on a headset, even when sitting throughout from one another. F1 groups are large, and never everybody might be current. Different staff members which may be 1000’s of miles away — both at staff headquarters, on the website of the subsequent Grand Prix, or someplace else on the earth — however they are going to nonetheless take part.

Degradation

Tyre administration is a big a part of F1. Degradation, or deg for brief, refers back to the thermal efficiency of the tyres, and how briskly the tyre is dropping efficiency on account of the circumstances.

Groups monitor the temperature of the tyres all through every lap, as tyres which might be both too sizzling or too chilly, is not going to produce sufficient grip for the automobile. Degradation is totally different than tyre put on, which happens naturally the longer a tyre is used.

Delta

Delta refers back to the distinction between a race automobile’s present lap time, and a predetermined lap time. When a automobile is “delta constructive,” that signifies that the automobile is operating slower than the predetermined lap time.

Beneath yellow flag circumstances, for instance, vehicles might be instructed to stay “delta constructive,” that means they’re to stay slower than the predetermined lap time.

Throughout qualifying, groups have a goal time they’re aiming for, and drivers could also be both “delta constructive,” or “delta damaging,” with respect to that concentrate on time.

Downforce

Downforce is likely one of the most vital aerodynamic elements of F1. This refers back to the vertical element of aerodynamic forces impacting the automobile. As vehicles journey by the air, downforce pushes the automobile down into the observe. At excessive speeds, the downforce created by the airflow across the automobile will exceed the burden of the automobile itself.

Drag

Drag is one other aerodynamic facet of the F1 world, and it refers back to the resistance skilled as a stable object travels by the air. The rear wings of F1 vehicles are designed to generate downforce, which as we simply famous pushes the vehicles down on the observe. However these options generate drag, which might scale back the highest velocity of the vehicles.

As we’ll see in a second, F1 vehicles have drag discount programs, which can be utilized in sure situations, to scale back drag.

Drive-through penalty

F1 stewards have a number of totally different penalties at their disposal to make use of throughout a race weekend on account of varied violations, whether or not within the pits or on the observe. One is a drive-through penalty, the place a driver should take his automobile by the pits at a decreased velocity, with out stopping. It have to be served inside two laps of being imposed, and it can’t be performed underneath a security automobile. If such a penalty is handed down within the closing laps of a race, 20 seconds are added to the ending time as an alternative of the driving force having to roll down pit lane.

This is likely one of the extra extreme penalties a steward can impose.

DRS

Drag Discount System, or DRS for brief, is a system geared toward permitting vehicles to succeed in most speeds and growing the possibilities for overtakes throughout races. Launched in 2011, DRS permits drivers to open a flap of their rear win to scale back drag ranges on the car, growing their most speeds. Throughout a race, drivers can interact their DRS system by urgent a button and opening up a flap on the rear wing of their automobile. Every circuit has designated DRS zones the place the system may be engaged — usually on straight-line parts of the observe — and DRS can solely be engaged when a driver is inside one second of the automobile in entrance of them.

On this picture from The Solar, you possibly can see the distinction within the flaps. On the left, Max Verstappen has DRS enabled and the rear flap open. On the proper, Charles Leclerc has DRS disabled, with the rear flap closed:

Race management can limit the usage of DRS in sure conditions, comparable to climate, and DRS is disabled for the primary two laps of their race, or in the course of the first two laps of a race following security automobile or crimson flag classes. F1 goes to look at that two-lap restriction at sure tracks in the course of the 2023 season.

ECU

The Engine Management Unit, or ECU, is a essential a part of the race automobile’s digital system. It controls the engine, the gearbox, the throttle, the clutch, the power restoration system (or ERS), and the drag discount system (DRS). It additionally transmits an enormous quantity of information again to the staff on pit lane, so strategic choices may be made every weekend.

F1 vehicles have over 300 totally different sensors, offering real-time knowledge to the groups to allow them to deal with each situation they face on the observe.

Vitality Retailer

The power retailer is one other approach of describing the battery system on an F1 race automobile. These are lithium ion batteries which might return power to the drivetrain power throughout every lap across the observe.

The power retailer is likely one of the six elements to an F1 energy unit.

ERS

The Vitality Restoration System, or ERS for brief, harnesses waste power — warmth power from the automobile’s turbocharger and kinetic power from the braking system — and returns it to the automobile. An F1 race automobile has two ERS items, the MGU-Ok (Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic) and the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Warmth). The ERS on an F1 race automobile can present as much as 120kw of energy for about 30 seconds per lap.

Each the MGU-H and the MGU-Ok might be described in higher element in a second.

Flat Spot

When a driver spins uncontrolled, or is compelled to interrupt closely, a flat spot is likely to be produced on a tyre, or on a number of tyres. A flat spot is a heavily-worn patch on a tyre, and may affect dealing with and/and even trigger vibration within the car. Drivers could also be compelled to pit for alternative tyres because of this.

Circulate-vis

Picture by Bradley Collyer/PA Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

Throughout pre-season testing, F1 groups try to determine precisely how air is flowing over the race vehicles. As we have now lined, aerodynamics is a big a part of F1.

One methodology groups use is by placing “flow-vis” paint on the entrance of the automobile throughout testing. Circulate-vis paint is a fluorescent powder blended with oil, that strikes over the floor of the race automobile because the car works its approach by the observe. Groups can observe how air is transferring over the automobile based mostly on the place the paint flows on the car.

Above is an instance of flow-vis in motion, on Nicholas Latifi’s Williams race automobile throughout testing previous to the 2022 F1 season.

Formation Lap

The formation lap, generally termed the parade lap or the warm-up lap, is the lap earlier than the beginning of a Grand Prix the place the vehicles drive across the circuit earlier than entering into place for the beginning of the race.

Entrance Wing

Picture by David Buono/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures

F1 race vehicles have a pair of wings, a rear wing, and a entrance wing. The entrance wing is arguably a very powerful aerodynamic ingredient of the race automobile, as it’s the first ingredient that comes into contact with the air because the automobile works across the observe. The entrance wing impacts how air flows over the remainder of the automobile.

Due to this, the entrance wing is likely one of the most regulated elements of the race automobile in F1. Groups face restrictions on the size, peak, and even how a lot the entrance wing can flex. Because of this, entrance wings are very related from staff to staff.

G power

Typically talking, a G Power or G-force — abbreviated as g — refers to a unit of bodily gravity that may be multiplied throughout fast adjustments in course, fast accelerations or decelerations, or each. That is felt as stress, or weight, on the physique when skilled.

Throughout acceleration, F1 drivers can expertise as much as 2 gs. When cornering, drivers can expertise wherever from 4 to even 6 gs.

Graining

Graining is one other sort of damage or harm that may happen to tyres. When graining takes place, a little bit of rubber is torn from the tyre, however instantly adheres to the tyre because of the sizzling floor temperatures. This creates an uneven floor on the tyre which might affect dealing with and braking. Graining usually happens when the tyre slides throughout the observe floor and is extra widespread with softer tyre compounds. Typically, graining resolves over time with widespread tyre put on, however in essentially the most extreme situations it would require altering to a special compound throughout a pit cease.

The above {photograph}, from Racecar Engineering, is an instance of tyre graining.

Grip

Grip is the quantity of traction the automobile has at any level on the observe. The extra grip, or traction, a driver has at their disposal, the simpler it’s for the driving force to regulate the automobile on the circuit and thru corners.

Halo

The halo ring is a latest security characteristic added to open-wheel race vehicles, together with on the F1 circuit. Launched in 2018, the halo gadget is a titanium ring that protects the driving force within the cockpit. Because the halo was launched, it has been credited with saving drivers from critical harm on a number of events, together with Lewis Hamilton in the course of the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, and Zhou Guanyu in final season’s British Grand Prix.

This video from the Mercedes F1 staff breaks down the halo security ring in higher element:

HANS gadget

The top and neck assist gadget, or HANS gadget for brief, has been in use in F1 because the 2003 season. It is a brace that rests on the driving force’s shoulders, and options straps that preserve the driving force’s head secured because the automobile strikes across the observe.

The HANS gadget works to maintain the driving force’s head stabilized throughout cornering, when accelerating and decelerating, and within the occasion of a crash. The HANS gadget helps stop critical accidents comparable to whiplash, mind accidents, and cranium fractures.

Warmth Cycle

A warmth cycle is a course of the place a tyre’s temperatures are modified, which alters the properties of the compound and may enhance grip, dealing with, and sturdiness. Tyres are taken from a cooling place to begin to a a lot hotter temperature by use.

Tyre compounds are designed to be best round 212 levels Fahrenheit, giving them and the race automobile improved grip across the circuit. Nonetheless, as we mentioned earlier, tyres which might be too sizzling can expertise blistering.

ICE

F1 vehicles make the most of an inner combustion engine, or ICE. The ICE is likely one of the six elements of the race automobile’s energy unit, and it connects the gearbox to the chassis. Presently, F1 ICEs are six-cylinder engines, constructed in a V-configuration at 90 levels, with a 1.6-litre displacement. F1 ICE items have a restrict of 15,000rpm.

Set up Lap

The set up lap, or set up lap, is an preliminary check lap performed when a staff or a automobile arrives at a circuit, throughout both a observe session or a check session. This isn’t even a full lap in most situations, because the automobile will go away the pits and are available straight again at a medium velocity. The aim is to ensure essential elements — comparable to the facility unit, the throttle, and the brakes — are working correctly.

Soar begin

You may hear the phrase “lights out” or “when the lights exit” earlier than the beginning of an F1 race. Races start when 5 crimson lights are lit up, one after the other, till all 5 are illuminated. After a pause, the lights exit, signaling the beginning of the race.

A leap begin happens when a driver strikes off their grid place previous to lights out. Sensors are in place to find out untimely motion, and a leap begin incurs a penalty.

Lock-up

A lock-up happens when a driver brakes laborious, “locking” a number of tyres whereas the others proceed to rotate. This often happens when a driver pushes too laborious right into a nook and/or brakes too late in a nook. Smoke from the within entrance tyre is often the telltale signal {that a} driver has locked-up, they usually may even drive by the nook when this happens.

Tyre flat spots may result from a tyre lock-up.

On this video from F1, Sebastian Vettel experiences a lock-up on the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix:

Marshal

Marshals are security officers current at a Grand Prix, they usually serve a wide range of roles. They assist preserve spectators secure, transferring them away from the observe when mandatory. They’ll work as fireplace marshals, responding to accidents to extinguish fires if/once they outcome whereas additionally serving to drivers exit their race vehicles. Marshals additionally

Meatball Flag

One of many different warning flags used throughout a race is a black flag with an orange circle on it, used when a automobile has seen harm that’s in peril of coming free on the observe. Since this might create a security hazard, the black and orange flag is a sign to the driving force of that car {that a} pit cease is important to repair the harm, for security causes.

It’s generally known as the “meatball” flag, most frequently by Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, who alongside together with his staff complained about how typically his automobile was proven the meatball flag final season.

MGU-H

As famous above, the Motor Generator Unit – Warmth (MGU-H) is a part of the race automobile’s power restoration system. The MGU-H harnesses waste power from an F1 automobile’s exhaust. That is positioned between the turbine and the compressor contained in the turbocharger, and is made up of magnets that spin round when crammed with exhaust fuel. These magnets generate electrical power, which is transmitted to the automobile’s power retailer.

On this video, Mercedes managing director Hywel Thomas explains how the MGU-H works in higher element:

MGU-Ok

Just like the MGU-H, the Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-Ok) can be a part of the automobile’s power restoration system. It may possibly get well, or provide, electrical power to the automobile. Connected to the automobile’s crankshaft, the MGU-Ok provides energy along with the automobile’s energy unit when the driving force accelerates, including about 161 horsepower to the automobile’s whole output in short spurts.

Nonetheless, when the driving force brakes, the MGU-Ok generates power by a system of magnets used to reap the kinetic power within the crankshaft. This power is distributed again to the car’s power retailer.

On this video, Mercedes managing director Hywel Thomas explains how the MGU-Ok works in higher element:

Choice tyre

At every Grand Prix the tyre provider will provide two totally different compounds for the staff to make use of. The second compound, which is often the softer of the 2, is known as the choice tyre.

Oversteer

Oversteering refers back to the situation the place the rear of the race automobile dows not wish to flip round a nook, and because of this, overtakes the entrance finish of the automobile as the driving force works by the flip. To manage the car on this scenario, the driving force wants to show the entrance wheels into the skid.

Paddock

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports activities

The paddock is the working space at an F1 circuit, situated behind pit lane. Right here, engineering employees can work, and new tyres may be saved, and groups can conduct debriefing classes. There may be additionally a hospitality space for employees, sponsors, and invited friends.

Paddocks are sometimes very spectacular buildings, given the truth that they’re typically damaged down after every Grand Prix and transported to an upcoming circuit. That is most frequently the case with the European races.

For extra on paddocks, and what goes into them, this information from Purple Bull Racing is value your time.

Parc fermé

Parc fermé is an enclosed space off pit lane the place vehicles are taken after qualifying, and after races. They aren’t to be touched by staff members until underneath strict supervision by race stewards.

Groups are additionally positioned underneath parc fermé circumstances as soon as qualifying begins. From that second till the beginning of the race, solely sure work may be performed on the automobile. Exchanging elements on a part-for-part foundation is permitted, however modifications to the car, or altering the suspension, will not be allowed underneath parc ferme circumstances.

Pits

The pits, or pit lane, is the world of the observe alongside the beginning/end line the place groups have garages for every car. Drivers can “field,” or come into the pits, to alter tyres and/or refuel throughout races, or make adjustments to the car throughout observe classes.

Pole place

Pole place is the place you wish to be when a race begins, and it refers back to the driver who recorded the quickest lap within the three-stage qualifying course of. At some circuits like Monaco, beginning up entrance is maybe the one path to a podium end.

Porpoising

Porpoising is an aerodynamic phenomenon that groups, particularly Mercedes, endured final season with new aerodynamic laws. With the introduction of the brand new laws, air was sucked underneath the race vehicles, pulling them nearer to the observe. Nonetheless, when the vehicles had been pulled too near the observe, the stream of air beneath the automobile would cease, eliminating any downforce on the car.

Because of this, the automobile would spring upward. This created an up-and-down impact termed porpoising, very like a dolphin working over the water.

On this video from F1.com taken at preseason testing a 12 months in the past, you possibly can see the porpoising impact on Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. Watch the tires and the rear wing bounce on the finish of a protracted straight.

Energy unit

The ability unit, or powertrain, consists of the six elements used to energy an F1 racing automobile. These six elements are: The interior combustion engine or ICE, the MGU-H, the MGU-Ok, the turbocharger, the management electronics, and the power retailer. Working collectively, these six elements management {the electrical} programs, harness and disburse electrical power, and energy the automobile on the observe.

Prime tyre

At every Grand Prix the tyre provider will provide two totally different compounds for the staff to make use of. The primary compound, which is often the more durable of the 2, is known as the prime tyre. In idea that is the compound most fitted for that exact observe.

Qualifying

Qualifying is the method whereby the beginning order for a Grand Prix is ready. F1 makes use of a three-stage qualifying course of. Within the first stage, the 20 drivers are decreased to fifteen, with the 5 slowest drivers eradicated. Within the second stage, the sector is narrowed once more by 5, getting the group all the way down to a remaining ten. The third and remaining stage units the beginning order for the highest ten.

Rear wing

Picture by Dan Istitene/Getty Pictures

Purple flag

A crimson flag is likely one of the security flags utilized by stewards throughout an F1 session. This means that the stewards have decided that the circumstances have made it unsafe to proceed and that each one drivers are to scale back velocity and return to pit lane. This may be as a result of particles on the observe, or to climate circumstances.

If a crimson flag is proven throughout a race, drivers are to return to pit lane and line up on the pit lane exit, the place they are going to be positioned in race order. When the race resumes, will probably be performed behind a security automobile.

Retirement

Retirement happens throughout a race when a automobile has to drop out of the sector, as a result of an accident or a mechanical failure.

Rumblestrip

Picture by TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

The rumblestrip is a bumpy patch of curbing often discovered on the exit of a nook. The aim of the rumblestrip is to warn the driving force of the sting of the observe.

Security automobile

A security automobile could also be deployed underneath yellow flag circumstances when race stewards discover it essential to sluggish all of the vehicles on the observe down whereas the hazardous circumstances are rectified. If, for instance, there’s an incident which creates lots of particles on the observe, a security automobile could also be deployed to permit the marshalls to clear the particles.

When there’s a security automobile on the observe, the vehicles should sluggish to a minimal delta — as described above — and can’t overtake. It will quiet down the tyre temperatures, so you’ll typically see drivers swerve to heat the tyres as a lot as doable.

Pit stops are permitted in the course of the deployment of the protection automobile. Lapped vehicles might be permitted to overhaul the chief.

When circumstances are cleared, drivers might be knowledgeable that the protection automobile is leaving the observe. The chief then controls the sector, and resumes racing velocity. As soon as the chief crosses the beginning/end line, racing resumes.

There may be additionally a digital security automobile, which we’ll define in a second.

Sectors

Laps are break up into three sections at every circuit, for timing functions, and the three sections are referred to as sectors. Every sector is roughly a 3rd of the lap, formally termed Sector 1, Sector 2, and Sector 3. Relying on the circuit, some vehicles is likely to be quicker in a single sector than the opposite.

Sidepod

Sidepods are the a part of the race automobile alongside the aspect, and their main function is to deal with the radiators in every F1 automobile. Given the velocity F1 vehicles obtain, and the RPMs concerned in an F1 energy unit, lots of cooling energy is required.

Nonetheless, sidepods have taken on an elevated aerodynamic function with the brand new F1 laws. As mentioned earlier, bargeboards are out, and now the sidepods are used to assist information the stream of air over, and round, the automobile.

On this video from F1.com, F1 technical skilled Craig Scarborough dives into sidepods in additional element.

Steward

Stewards are the high-ranking officers at every Grand Prix who could make choices concerning circumstances, penalties, and extra.

Cease-and-go penalty

A stop-and-go penalty is one other of the penalties that stewards can impose on a race weekend for a violation of the foundations. When given a stop-and-go penalty the driving force has to convey their car into the pits, and cease for ten seconds. The staff can not refuel, or make any tyre adjustments, throughout this penalty.

Telemetry

Telemetry refers back to the large quantity of information factors generated by an F1 race automobile every second. F1 race vehicles have over 300 sensors, transmitting over a million factors of information to their groups every second. F1 groups monitor velocity, suspension actions, directional forces, throttle, braking, tyre temperatures, cornering, acceleration, and a lot extra.

On this video from the Sauber F1 Group, you possibly can see in real-time the telemetry supplied to the staff, together with the side-by-side view of their automobile on the observe:

On this video Cameron Brewser, the IT Methods Engineer for Haas, talks about how knowledge is synched from the observe, to the pits, and even again to move quarters:

Timed penalty

Timed penalties, both five- or ten-second penalties, can ben handed down by stewards for infractions throughout a race. When such a penalty is levied, they are often served throughout a driver’s subsequent pit cease. When the automobile comes into the pits, it should stay stationary for the penalty time earlier than any work on the automobile can start.

If the penalty is levied after the completion of deliberate pit stops, or in the course of the remaining three laps of a race, the allotted time might be added onto their remaining race time as an alternative.

Turbo

The turbocharger, or turbo for brief, is a tool on an F1 race automobile to power extra air into the interior combustion engine (ICE). Typically talking, inner combustion engines require a combination of gasoline, and air, for combustion. A spark combusts the combination, making a small explosion, forcing the piston contained in the cylinder down. That is the facility stroke, which works to propel the automobile. The piston then strikes again up within the exhaust stroke, expelling the used gasses into the ambiance.

On this video that I’m fairly certain I noticed throughout highschool, how an inner combustion engine works is damaged down.

That’s the way it works on the vehicles we drive. However it’s totally different with an F1 turbocharger.

What the turbocharger does is put that expelled used gasses to work, utilizing them to generate extra energy. As a substitute of releasing the exhaust exterior of the automobile, exhaust gasses move as an alternative by a turbine. This turbine is immediately related to a compressor within the air consumption. By compressing this air into the ICE, every cylinder is ready to generate extra power within the energy stroke.

Extra power within the energy stroke equals extra energy.

On this video, Mercedes Mercedes managing director Hywel Thomas explains how the turbocharger works in higher element:

Turbulence

Turbulence, or “soiled air,” refers back to the wake left behind when an F1 automobile slices by the air. As famous above, when an F1 observe is alone on the observe, or using on the entrance of the pack, they move by clear air. The vehicles behind them, nevertheless, should move by the turbulence created within the air by the automobile in entrance.

Turbulent, or soiled, air impacts the aerodynamic stream of the vehicles behind a lead automobile on the observe.

This may be useful on lengthy straights, because the automobile in entrance is punching the air and doing extra work, successfully pulling the automobile behind it alongside the observe. However on turns and thru corners, turbulent air reduces downforce — slowing the automobile down by turns — and reduces the effectiveness of the automobile’s cooling system.

On this quick video Rob Smedley, F1’s technical director, discusses turbulence, and the way groups work to attenuate soiled air on the observe:

Understeer

As you may count on, that is the alternative of an oversteer. When a automobile understeers, the entrance finish doesn’t wish to flip by a nook, and slides out vast as the driving force tries to get the automobile to alter instructions.

On this clip from the 2018 Hungarian Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes understeers by a nook, sliding into the Purple Bull of Daniel Ricciardo on the skin:

Digital security automobile

There could also be conditions the place there’s a hazardous situation on the observe, comparable to a stalled car, however as a result of the scenario will probably clear in a brief period of time, the usage of a security automobile shouldn’t be mandatory. That is the place you may see a digital security automobile, or VSC. When a digital security automobile is used, drivers are instructed to sluggish by 30% utilizing an automatic timing system. Drivers can see an automatic timing delta on their steering programs, which is repeatedly up to date.

Pit stops are permitted underneath a digital security automobile, supplied pit lane shouldn’t be closed. Nonetheless, lapped vehicles will not be allowed to overhaul the chief. That is one other distinction between a security automobile scenario, and the usage of a digital security automobile.

The VSC might finish at any level on the observe, and there’s no required length for a VSC.

Yellow flag

A yellow flag is one other security flag utilized by the stewards throughout an F1 occasion. Typically talking, a yellow flag means that there’s a harmful scenario forward and that overtaking shouldn’t be permitted. A single yellow flag signifies that drivers must decelerate, whereas a double yellow flag signifies that the scenario is harmful sufficient that stopping is likely to be mandatory.